Red Wing Police Chief fired by city council

Red Wing Chief of Police Roger Pohlman’s employment was terminated by the Red Wing City Council Friday night.

According to the letter of termination sent to Chief Pohlman, he was terminated for having "not met the Council’s performance expectations." The letter then goes on to list a number of incidences where Pohlman did not meet expectations.

Examples listed by the council include showing lack of leadership in connections with the Advisory Team, defensiveness when being provided suggestions and unwillingness to take feedback and grow. The council also stated that they were concerned that Pohlman did not respond to citizens and that he sent an unprofessional communication to a councilmember during a council meeting expressing his disappointment that a contract he wanted was tabled.

The full letter of termination can be found at the link here.

A citizen-led rebuke of the suspension and subsequent termination of Pohlman claimed that the actions taken were under the "guise of ‘social justice,’" and that the city council’s decision was "unfounded, outrageous and politically motivated."

In a statement, Pohlman said after the city council decided it no longer wanted him as police chief, council members offered to either let him resign and retain some benefits or receive a non-disciplinary termination of employment.

"My oath of office to the community and Police Department is not completed, therefore resignation was not an option," Pohlman said in the statement.

"I am proud to have served the people of Red Wing over the past eight years — leading an outstanding group of dedicated police officers that would be the envy of any small community anywhere in America."

KSTP has reached out to the city council for comment and is yet to hear back.